Lobularia plant named ‘Inlbuwikni’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lobularia  plant named ‘Inlbuwikni’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading, mounding and semi-trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; relatively small leaves; freely and continuous flowering habit; relatively long flowering period; small white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: (Lobularia canariensis×Lobularia maritima)×Lobularia maritima.

Cultivar denomination: ‘INLBUWIKNI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lobularia plant, botanically known as (Lobularia canariensis×Lobularia maritima)×Lobularia maritima and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Inlbuwikni’.

The new Lobularia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new compact and semi-trailing Lobularia plants with numerous flowers.

The new Lobularia plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in March, 2009 in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain of a Lobularia canariensis×Lobularia maritima ‘Inlbusnopr’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,594, as the female, or seed, parent, with an unnamed selection of Lobularia maritima, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lobularia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain in May, 2010. Asexual reproduction of the new Lobularia plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Gensingen, Germany since June, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Lobularia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lobularia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Inlbuwikni’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Inlbuwikni’ as a new and distinct Lobularia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, outwardly spreading, mounding and semi-trailing         plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Relatively small leaves.     -   4. Freely and continuous flowering habit.     -   5. Relatively long flowering period.     -   6. Small white-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance and tolerant to high temperatures.

Plants of the new Lobularia differ from plants of the female parent, ‘Inlbusnopr’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobularia are more compact than and not as         vigorous as plants of ‘Inlbusnopr’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lobularia are not as trailing as plants of         ‘Inlbusnopr’.     -   3. Plants of the new Lobularia flower about ten days later than         plants of ‘Inlbusnopr’.

Plants of the new Lobularia differ from plants of the male parent selection primarily in leaf size and thickness as plants of the new Lobularia have smaller and thinner leaves than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Lobularia can be compared to (Lobularia canariensis×Lobularia maritima)×Lobularia maritima ‘Inlbublupr’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,516. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lobularia differed from plants of ‘Inlbublupr’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobularia were not as vigorous as plants of         ‘Inlbublupr’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Lobularia were consistently         white in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Inlbublupr’ were         white in color and with development or under conditions of high         temperatures and/or light levels became light violet in color.

Plants of the new Lobularia can be compared to (Lobularia canariensis×Lobularia maritima)×Lobularia maritima ‘Inlbupripr’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lobularia differed from plants of ‘Inlbupripr’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobularia were more vigorous than plants of         ‘Inlbupripr’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lobularia and ‘Inlbupripr’ differed in leaf         color as plants of ‘Inlbupripr’ had green and yellow-variegated         leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Lobularia and ‘Inlbupripr’ differed         slightly in flower color as flowers of plants of ‘Inlbupripr’         were off-white in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Lobularia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Lobularia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Inlbuwikni’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Inlbuwikni’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn in one-gallon containers an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lobularia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 27° C. to 32° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 24° C. and light levels ranging from 6,000 to 8,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched two times and were three months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: (Lobularia canariensis×Lobularia     maritima)×Lobularia maritima ‘Inlbuwikni’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lobularia canariensis×Lobularia             maritima ‘Inlbusnopr’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.             21,594.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Lobularia             maritima, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four to five days at             temperatures of about 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five to seven days at             temperatures of about 7° C. to 16° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six             weeks at 7° C. to 16° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading,             mounding and semi-trailing plant habit; freely branching             habit with about six primary lateral branches each with             about eight secondary lateral branches and numerous tertiary             lateral branches developing per plant; dense and bushy             appearance vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 18.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 45 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 32 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Internode length: About 1 cm to 2.5 cm. Strength: Strong,             flexible; with flower development, falling outwardly.             Texture: Scattered pubescent; longitudinally ridged. Color:             Close to 147C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 5 mm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Canescent; fine.         -   Venation pattern.—Single midvein.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147B;             venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4.5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Small single rounded flowers arranged             in narrow and loose terminal racemes; flowers face mostly             outwardly; freely flowering habit, about 120 flowers             potentially developing per inflorescence.         -   Natural flowering season.—Relatively long flowering period;             plants flower continuously from early spring until late             autumn in southern California.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four to five days;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 16 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 3 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Shape: Roughly spherical. Color: Close to NN155D.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four petals arranged in a             single whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:             Oval. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D.             Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D;             color does not fade or shift with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four sepals arranged in a             single whorl; calyx, cup-shaped. Length: About 1.5 mm.             Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Elliptical, short. Apex: Acute.             Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Scattered             pubescence. Color, upper surface: Close to 147B. Color,             lower surface: Close to 147C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Scattered pubescence. Color:             Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Width: Less than 1 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Scattered pubescence.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D.             Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther             color: Close to 16A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 15A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 1.5 mm. Style length: Less than 1 mm. Style             color: Close to 145C. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color:             Close to 145B. Ovary color: Close to 145B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Lobularia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lobularia have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Lobularia     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lobularia have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 4° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lobularia plant named ‘Inlbuwikni’ as illustrated and described. 